Afterword

Hello, this is Makishima Suzuki.

Thank you very much for picking up this book.

Half a year has passed by so quickly since Welcome to Japan, Ms. Elf! has been novelized, and the series now has volume 5 out on sale.

I believe it’s thanks to everyone’s support that we’ve come this far. I’d like to express my utmost gratitude in this afterword.

One spring full of blooming cherry blossoms, Mariabelle unexpectedly arrived in Japan. Japan is quite a hectic country in my eyes, but with its food, culture, and forms of entertainment, it must be a fresh and exciting place that piques her curiosity. I stopped visiting the once-familiar libraries once I became a working adult, but it must be a treasure trove to her. As such, it really sank in that Japan is actually a wonderful country while I was writing this book.

They say your eyes become clouded as you become an adult. I feel as if I’ve been making less and less new discoveries as my days are filled with the sight of my commute and workplace. This book is also a story of making new discoveries through Mariabelle’s eyes. I think it’s pretty uncommon to go on domestic trips for novels like this.

I’ve gone sightseeing in the regions I’ve traveled while writing this book and researched stories about Aomori and Mount Iwaki. The preparations were as thorough as if I were going on a real vacation, though I can’t remember the last time I went on a trip for leisure. (laughs)

I believe learning new things and being fascinated by them are experiences that enrich our lives. Whether it be something like anime or manga, I’m sure Mariabelle felt joy unlike anything she’d ever felt before upon discovering them. On the other hand, Kitase was surely having the time of his life when he first stepped into the elven village.

Speaking of having fun, I’ve been quite busy writing, but there has been much joy in the process, as well. To Yappen, who always draws such adorable covers and illustrations, I always look forward to your art. To Shimo Aono, who has brought the comic version to life, I always read your work with a smile on my face. This is published on the Comic Fire homepage, which is run by Hobby Japan, so I would be thrilled if you could take a look. I’m sure you’ll encounter a free-spirited and lovable elf, and every title there is high quality and enjoyable to read.

“Literary professional” may have an intellectual ring to it, but it’s actually rather plain in reality, and we just sit in front of our computers and type out words. But I find it a fascinating experience when those written characters turn into illustrations and manga and speak to us through speech bubbles.

Now that volume 5 has come to a close, it’s time to say goodbye to spring and its fresh verdure. This marks the beginning of summer and vast blue skies. With the comfortable season at its end, will Ms. Elf suffer through Japan’s trademark sweltering nights? Or will she be the only one sleeping soundly at room temperature? There’s no telling what will happen, but she will surely be adorable even while sweating profusely. All the better if she ends up picking out a swimsuit for the pool.

I hope you look forward to the next volume. And please be sure on release day to tell her, “Welcome to Japan, Ms. Elf!”